We woke up at seven, refreshed after a good sleep. After a hearty breakfast of dosas, we were raring to go! The highway to Alapuzha (Alleppey) was an excellent road in constant maintainance, and we were relaxed after seeing the INSAT photo that showed absolutely no monsoon clouds anywhere in the subcontinent. However, we did have cloud cover while cycling on this tree-canopied highway, which at places was four-laned.We reached Alleppey (55km) by lunchtime. Cycled along the tree-lined canals having innumerable old and narrow bridges. A nice town - no wonder it’s called the Venice of the East, although Mr Sukumaran had told us that most of the old canals are either out of use or reclaimed for land.
We had lunch at a good Udupi restaurant that served payasa as well. After that, we searched for a place to rest. We could have bunked by the side of a canal, but Shyam wanted to be near the highway. We went on and took shelter under, of all places, a water reservoir. It turned out to be a good idea. Even ground, good shade, and lots of water (duh). A cool breeze is blowing as I write this.
The 46km in the evening was unremarkable and peaceful, and we completed the easiest century while entering Kayamkulam. The police there surprised us by welcoming us. The in-charge guy was impressed by our IIT status, the first chap on the trip to be so. He recommended some grub spot to us (even he called food “grub”!), after which we split a pineapple and then slept without bathing.
There was lightning tonight as well but the policeman seemed very confident it wouldn’t rain.
Estimate of distance covered today: 101km
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